Sights of Makhachkala - what to see on your own

Well, we'll tell you separately about entertainment in Makhachkala. By and large, there are no tourist attractions here, but there is a city beach and something like a promenade on Rhodope Boulevard. You can also go to the neighboring city of Kaspiysk, where there is one large Aqualand water park, and next to it another inexpensive small one. There is also an amusement park near Ak-Gel lake, but it will surprise only the most inexperienced vacationers and children, the attractions there are very simple.

Also in Makhachkala, during your vacation, you can attend cultural events in:

• Lak Musical and Drama Theater Effendi Kapieva
• Avar Musical and Drama Theater named after Gamzat Tsadasa
• Russian Theater named after M. Gorky
• Puppet Theater of Dagestan
• Poetry Theater

A special "tourist entertainment" worth mentioning is the local cuisine. In Makhachkala you will find a lot of cafes cooking traditional Caucasian and Dagestani cuisine, and you should definitely try it. Moreover, you will get the most delicious dishes not at all in fashionable expensive establishments in the center, but in small local establishments and in street fast food. And be sure to visit one of the local coffee shops.

And now we present you a list of the most interesting and worth visiting attractions in Makhachkala and the surrounding area with a description, indication of opening hours, cost and a detailed explanation of how to get there yourself:

City beach

The city beach in Makhachkala is the only equipped beach in the city. It is equipped with everything you need, but everything is simple and minimal. There are sunbeds, exercise equipment for simple charging, benches, canopies and umbrellas from the sun. Locker rooms are divided into men's and women's. There are no active water activities such as riding a banana.

Fast food is not sold directly on the beach, but it can be found when leaving the beach from the side of the road, where a kind of embankment has formed. It has fast food outlets with shawarma, burgers, ice cream, lemonades and coffee. Cafes and kebabs also work there. Learn more about Makhachkala beach here.

Makhachkala Embankment

In general, there is no embankment in Makhachkala as such, but if you go from the city beach through the railway tracks to the opposite side, you will get to Rhodope Boulevard – a place for walking in addition to beach holidays. And if you walk along the boulevard further beyond the City Garden, you will get to the S. Stalsky Boulevard . This is also a beautifully designed and pleasant don for walking with places to relax in the shade, a fountain and a monument to the poet Suleiman Stalsky. Read more about the embankment in Makhachkala here.

National Museum of the Republic of Dagestan

In general, the National Museum of the Republic of Dagestan is one of the largest museums in the North Caucasus, consists of several branches and branches located in different parts of Dagestan. It is large and informative, here you can learn a lot about the traditions and customs, the peculiarities of the culture of the peoples of the republic. If you like to get acquainted with history by visiting museums, then you will be able to spend more than one hour here with pleasure. The museum's collection includes more than 130,000 exhibits, most of which are exhibited in 21 halls. Read more about the National Museum of Dagestan here.

Makhachkala Art Museum

The Dagestan Art Museum of Fine Arts named after P.S. Gamzatova was officially opened in 1958, although the formation of the future collection began long before that. Its exposition has about 14,000 valuable exhibits, thanks to which the museum is the richest in the North Caucasus. Sometimes it is also called the "Small Hermitage". It contains objects and exhibits of Western European art of the XVI-XIX centuries, Russian art of the XIX-XX centuries: paintings, drawings, lithographs. The painting is represented by paintings by famous Russian artists I.K. Aivazovsky, I.N. Kramskoy, V.I. Surikov, I.I. Levitan, and Dagestani artists M.-A. Dzhemal, Yu.A. Mollaev, D.A. Kapanitsyn, H.-B. Askar-Saryja and others. In addition to paintings, there are many relics and objects made of carved wood and stone, jewelry, weapons, hammered dishes and utensils, carpets and national clothes, glass, ceramics. Some specimens are dated II millennium before our time. Learn more about the Art Museum of Dagestan here.

Dagestan Aul Museum

The original museum complex "Dagestan aul" (the full name of the Museum-Reserve is the ethnographic complex "Dagestan aul") It is located in the same building with the National Museum. He tells about the way of life, rituals and traditions of the peoples of Dagestan – Avars, Kunaks, Dargins, Laks, Nogais and many others. After all, if you don't know, today more than 17 nationalities live on the territory of Dagestan, and at least 14 of them originally inhabited these lands. There is a small but very interesting and authentic exposition in 7 halls of the Dagestan Aul. The exhibition is based on traditional clothes, jewelry, carpets, weapons, dishes, tools and much more. Read more about the museum "Dagestan aul" here.

Museum "Russia – my history"

In Makhachkala there is a museum of a major all-Russian project "Russia is my history". These are modern museums that tell about the history of Russia, where information is presented in the form of interactive displays and screens. However, in addition to the multimedia format, the Makhachkala Museum also presents a small number of archaeological exhibits, artifacts, documents and photos. Here you can learn a lot of interesting historical facts, watch movies, videos, listen to stories. Exhibitions, first of all, are educational and informative in nature. Their subject matter is changing, but for tourists it will be especially interesting to have a permanent section that introduces the history and peoples of the Republic of Dagestan.

We highly recommend that you visit this museum if you have time, even if you have been to similar places in other cities of the Russian Federation. Just keep in mind that this is still not a classic museum with real exhibits, but primarily a multimedia exhibition. So if you can't imagine getting to know history without examining artifacts and archaeological exhibits, you may not really like it here. In that case, it's better to go to the National Museum.

Museum of Military Glory

The Museum of Military Glory and the Alley of Heroes named after V.V. Makarova is dedicated to national heroes who participated in various military operations, starting with the Great Patriotic War and up to the present. It is small, opened in 1981. Among the exhibits are authentic documents, personal belongings, letters, photographs, orders and medals, finds discovered by search teams. Unfortunately, his collection continues to grow. Read more about the Museum of military glory in Makhachkala here.

Makhachkala History Museum

The Makhachkala History Museum is a small city museum that tells about the history of the city of Makhachkala. It is located in the pyramidal structure of the memorial complex dedicated to the Russian intelligentsia, known as the "Monument to the Teacher".

The entire exposition is located in one hall. Among the exhibited exhibits are objects of archeology, paintings by local artists, objects of decorative and applied art, photographs. Temporary exhibitions are also held periodically in the museum.

Despite the fact that there are few exhibits presented here, free educational excursions are held for visitors, which make up for this shortcoming. In addition, the museum is located on the territory of Ak-Gel Park, near Ak-Gel Lake, so visiting it and walking around the park after it will be a pleasant pastime.

The Center of Ethnic Culture

In the center of ethnic culture you can get acquainted with the culture and crafts of the peoples of Dagestan. On the ground floor there are a variety of products of Dagestani artisans – jewelry made of silver by Kubachin craftsmen, unique carpets and textiles from Tabasaran, painted ceramic dishes from Balkhara. In the souvenir shop you can look and buy the product you like. Cultural events and workshops are organized and held on the second floor. The facade of the Ethnic Culture Center, resembling a carpet ornament, looks very impressive against the background of nearby buildings. He involuntarily arouses interest and a desire to look inside. You should definitely take advantage of this also because the entrance to it is completely free.

Petrovsky lighthouse in Makhachkala

Not far from the city beach is the Makhachkala lighthouse – one of the sights of the city and an object of cultural heritage of the Russian Federation. It is also known as Petrovsky or Port Petrovsky Lighthouse. The lighthouse is active. It was built in 1866 for the safety of ships coming to the port and was turned on first as needed, and since 1882 it has been working around the clock. It was originally painted white, later red stripes were added to it, thanks to which it became brighter and more noticeable to stand out against the background of the sprawling city. He did not stop working during the Great Patriotic War. Read more about the lighthouse in Makhachkala here.

Monument to the first teacher

There are many significant monuments and monuments in Makhachkala, but it is worth telling about the Monument to the first Russian teacher separately, since it can be safely called one of the most unusual. The bronze sculpture of a woman with a book appeared here in 2006 in memory of the important role played by Russian teachers in the educational development of the people of Dagestan at the beginning of the 20th century. After the Revolution of 1917, the USSR began a program of universal education of the population, for which Russian teachers were sent to Dagestan, and mostly they were female teachers. As a result, Russian, in which teachers taught, became the language of interethnic communication of different peoples of Dagestan in the Republic, who before that communicated in their own languages.

Ak-Gel Lake and amusement park

Lake Ak-Gel is a small pond almost in the center of the city, a good place for a day and evening walk. In summer, you can swim here, ride catamarans, sunbathe on the shore. And although to a greater extent the lake, as a place of rest, will be more interesting to the residents of the city than as a tourist attraction, however, there are two parks on its shores: Ak-Gel Park and Dragon Park. These are park areas for walking with children, and in summer there are children's attractions and entertainment, pavilions with ice cream and snacks, there are paths for scooters and strollers, rental of children's transport. In Ak-Gel Park there is a city museum and a monument to the first Russian teacher.

Zoological Museum

In the building of Dagestan State University there is a Zoological Museum, which will certainly appeal to both adults and children. There are many stuffed animals and birds, fish and reptiles collected here. The exposition has more than 600 exhibits of animals and birds and about 10 thousand specimens of insects. The exhibits are placed in 2 halls in a certain sequence. All the diversity of the animal world of the Republic of Dagestan is represented, but there are also samples brought from Brazil, Azerbaijan, Belarus. Learn more about the zoological museum here.

Central Juma Mosque

This is the main and most important mosque for Muslims in Makhachkala, and the largest in Russia. It was built in 1997 on the initiative and at the expense of a wealthy Turkish family living in the city. The architectural basis was Blue Mosque in Istanbul. The huge white building looks impressive both outside and inside. 2 minarets rise above the numerous domes. Inside, the walls and ceiling are decorated with beautiful patterns and ornaments. Tourists are free to visit the mosque, but certain rules must be observed: shoes are removed before entering, clothes should not expose shoulders and knees, so men wear shirts and trousers, and women wear a hoodie and cover their heads. Read more about the Juma Mosque-the Mosque in Makhachkala here.

Assumption Cathedral

This is the main functioning Orthodox church in the city, a beautiful and elegant monument of the cultural heritage of the peoples of the Russian Federation. It was rebuilt of stone in 1905-1906 to replace the wooden church that existed on this site since 1890, and, remarkably, Emperor Nicholas II himself allocated part of the funds for the construction. The new cathedral was consecrated in honor of the Icon of the Mother of God "Mozdokskaya". After the revolution, the temple was liquidated, and the building was used as a shop, restaurant, dormitory. But already in 1943 it was repaired and illuminated in honor of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, divine services resumed. Read more about the Assumption Cathedral in Makhachkala here.

Tarki-Tau Mountain

Tarki-Tau Mountain is a natural monument of Dagestan and one of the active attractions in the city limits. You can climb it, from the top there are views of the city and the coast. The mountain is low, the highest point in the west is Cape Saryar, only 745 meters. A hike to Tarki-tau mountain will be a pleasant time for those who stayed in Makhachkala for a few days and have already looked at everything. Here you can have a picnic and relax. In windy weather, there may be cold winds at the top, it's worth grabbing a windbreaker. Learn more about Tarki-tau and how to visit it here.

Sulak Canyon

This is the most exciting natural attraction of Dagestan and a place that we undoubtedly recommend to visit every guest of the Republic. This is one of the deepest canyons in Europe, and even leaves behind the world-famous Grand Canyon in the USA. It is a gorge up to 1920 meters deep and 53 kilometers long, along the bottom of which the Sulak River flows. There are two hydroelectric power stations on the Sulak River: Chirkeyskaya HPP and Miatlinskaya HPP, they are usually visited simultaneously with the canyon.

This natural attraction attracts tens of thousands of tourists annually. In clear sunny weather, the canyon offers stunning and fascinating views that take your breath away even from the most seasoned travelers: the surrounding mountains and hills covered with greenery, the emerald river winding among them and birds flying below. In addition to the views from the observation points, it is also possible and necessary to take a boat trip along the river at the bottom of the canyon. Learn more about the Sulak Canyon and how to visit it here.

Barkhan Sarykum

This is a unique natural place in Dagestan, one of the highest dunes in Eurasia, its height is 262 m. And although it is not located in Makhachkala, but 30 kilometers from the city, it is best to visit it from Makhachkala.

There is still no exact scientific explanation of how a single dune formed among the green hills on the border of the Caucasus Mountains, but this only adds to its mystery. And also, episodes for the film "White Sun of the Desert" were filmed in this place. It is located on the territory of the Dagestan Nature Reserve and is part of the natural corner of the Sarykumsky dunes. And therefore it is visited not only to see the sands, but also to get acquainted with the unusual nature of this region, which was formed here due to the appearance of this natural anomaly. There is also a small nature museum here, where you can get acquainted in more detail with the diversity of the inhabitants of the reserves of Dagestan. Learn more about the Sarykum dune and how to visit it here.

Chirkeyskaya HPP

This is one of the largest industrial attractions of Dagestan and the most powerful hydroelectric power plants in Russia. The huge arched dam of the hydroelectric power station, blocking the river, becomes the object of attention of travelers in this part of Dagestan, as a place that can be seen from an observation point. From it you can see the dam itself, part of the Sulak Canyon and the Chirkey reservoir. However, you can not only inspect the hydroelectric power station from the observation deck, but also visit the facility as part of a group excursion, for which you must pre-register for an excursion that takes place 2 times a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays. Learn more about the Chirkeyskaya HPP and how to visit it here.

Chirkeyskoye reservoir

The reservoir was formed as a result of the construction of the Chirkeyskaya HPP. Behind the hydroelectric dam, you can observe a huge pond with turquoise water – this is the reservoir. It attracts guests of Dagestan with beautiful views, there are not equipped beaches on its rocky and sandy shores, and water activities are also offered here. You can ride a high–speed carriage or rent a jet ski, but the most popular entertainment for tourists is a boat ride along the reservoir and Sulak Canyon. Learn more about the Chirkeyskoye reservoir here.

Aqualand Water Park in Kaspiysk

Aqualand Water Park is the only large water park that can be visited from Makhachkala. A place of entertainment for adults and children, although more focused on the latter. The water park is modest and small, there are few slides. It is divided into zones for the youngest, older children and adults. In addition to swimming pools and slides of different heights, there is a children's playground. A cozy park area and summer cafes have a pleasant stay. Changing rooms, showers, deck chairs, lifebuoys are available to visitors. Rescuers and animators are working.